Case of Markin and Trofimov in Polyarny

Hidden video cameras are installed in the apartments of the residents of Polyarny, whom the FSB considers Jehovah's Witnesses. Surveillance at the request of the FSB is authorized by the Northern Naval Military Court.

The FSB declares the "discovery of a crime" and transfers the case for investigation to the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Murmansk Region. Joint prayers and Bible readings are interpreted as "organizing the activities of an extremist organization" (with reference to the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation to liquidate all 396 registered organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses).

The Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Murmansk Region initiates a criminal case against Viktor Trofimov and other unidentified persons under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

From 19:00, simultaneous searches begin in 7 houses, the last of them ends at 4 am. The interrogations of 13 people continue throughout the night until 6 am.

Local residents Viktor Trofimov and Roman Markin were charged under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. They were detained for 48 hours, then for another 72 hours.

The Polyarny District Court sent Viktor Trofimov and Roman Markin to a pre-trial detention center.

The Court of Appeal does not satisfy Viktor Trofimov's complaint against the measure of restraint.

The Court of Appeal does not satisfy Roman Markin's complaint against the measure of restraint.

The criminal case is transferred to the investigator Gulin A.V. for development.

The Polyarny District Court extends the arrest of Viktor Trofimov and Roman Markin for 5 months and 24 days at once.

The Court of Appeal does not satisfy Roman Markin's complaint against the measure of restraint.

The Court of Appeal does not satisfy Viktor Trofimov's complaint against the measure of restraint.

The Polyarny District Court puts Roman Markin and Viktor Trofimov under house arrest for 2 months.

Polyarny District Court extends the house arrest of Roman Markin and Viktor Trofimov for 2 months, until 11.02.2019

The Polyarny District Court cancels the house arrest of Roman Markin and Viktor Trofimov. The investigator chooses a measure of restraint in the form of a written undertaking not to leave the place.

The investigator notifies the believers of the completion of the investigative actions and the transition to the stage of familiarizing the accused with the case materials.

The prosecutor's office of the Kola district of the Murmansk region signs the indictment, the final document in which the investigators had to justify their attacks on peaceful law-abiding believers.

Roman Markin and Viktor Trofimov were indicted.

The case is submitted to the Polyarny District Court and referred to Judge Victoria Loginova for consideration. The case is assigned the number 1-23/2019.

A preliminary hearing is underway.

Hearings on the case begin. Further hearings are held on 17.07.2019, 18.07.2019, 24.07.2019, 01.08.2019, 07.08.2019, 14.08.2019, 21.08.2019, 04.09.2019, 11.09.2019, 16.09.2019, 26.09.2019, 02.10.2019, 11.11.2019, 13.11.2019, 19.11.2019, 26.11.2019, 02.12.2019, 12.12.2019 and 26.12.2019.

During the debate, the prosecutor asks the court to sentence Roman Markin to 6 years in prison, and Viktor Trofimov to 6 years and 5 months in prison. In turn, in the last word, the believers ask the court to fully acquit them.

Viktoriya Loginova, judge of the Polyarny District Court, announces the verdict. Roman Markin and Viktor Trofimov were found guilty under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Viktor Trofimov was sentenced to a fine of 350,000 rubles, Roman Markin - 300,000 rubles. (The court took into account that the believers spent six months in pre-trial detention, so it reduced the fine imposed on them from 650,000 and 600,000 rubles to 350,000 and 300,000 rubles, respectively.)

In Polyarny, believers Markin and Trofimov are filing an appeal against a conviction handed down to them for their faith.

The appeal of Markin and Trofimov was accepted in the Murmansk Regional Court. Case No. 22-339/2020 is referred to Judge Roman Goraskov for consideration.

An appeal hearing is underway in the Murmansk City Court. Judge Roman Goraskov leaves the verdict of the Polar City Court unchanged - to recover fines from Viktor Trofimov and Roman Markin in the amount of 350,000 and 300,000 rubles, respectively.

Judge of the Third Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction in St. Petersburg, Denis Savelyev, leaves the verdict and the appeal ruling against Roman Markin and Viktor Trofimov unchanged.